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SI, THE TRAMP; 



(A MELODRAMA) 



*^'^^^&'^i*^ 



WIVI. K. ENSIGN. 



LAID IN SAN FRANCISCO 
Time, 1880 




^ 



Henderson & Crane, Printers, San Francisco 
1S90 



SI, THE TRA^lVrP 

(A MELODRAMA) 

By W^ixL. F. Ensign 



^ DRAMATIS PERSONS. 



James Clayton, a Banker, and Guardian of Grace Saville. 
Clarence Meadows, alias Allen Drake, James Clayton's Con- 
fidential Secretary. 
Detective Spinner. 
Si, The Tramp. 
Mugs, a Wandering Minstrel. 
GiP, a Gamin. 

Prince, a Waif, alias Albert Clayton, Jr. 
Max Shinbourn. 
Jimmy Hope. 

Grace Saville, ward of James Clayton. 
Mrs. Drake, a Nursp. 
Emily Jordan, a Maid. 

Mrs. Bloomfield, Landlady of the Home for the Weary. 
Cashier, Teller and Clerk in James Clayton's Bank. 



PROLOGUE. 

Scene — Interior of James Clayton's Banking House ; time, 
three o'clock, p. m.; Clayton and Meadows at their desks in private 
office ; Cashier, Teller, Clerk and Customers at counter in banking- 
room. 






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TMPS6-0C7286 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Clayton — " Clarence, will you bring me my private box from the 
vault ? " 

Meadows — (Goes to vault and retui-ns with box, places it on 
Clayton's desk, returns to his own ; Clayton opens the box, taking 
out a small locket.) 

Enter iSpinner (to Clayton) — " I received your note requesting 
me to call, and have done so, hoping my oldest friend is not in- 
volved in anything of a serious nature." 

Clayton — " Be seated and I will explain as briefly as possible, 
trusting you can attend to the aftair." 

Spinner (seating himself) — " I will be pleased to render any ser- 
vice in my power." 

Clayton — " My son Albert, as you know, married against my 
wishes. After a stormy interview we parted, and never met again. 
I recently learned that shortly after we separated, he was taken ill 
and died, leaving his widow with a baby boy, to struggle with pov- 
erty and the world alone. She soon followed Albert to the grave, 
the child disappeared, a waif in the crowd of a great city. This 
locket contains Albert's photograph " (shows the locket) " and is a 
duplicate of one the mother placed on the baby's neck and the only 
clue to the child's identity. Its counterpart I hope you may find 
and with it my grandson.' 

Spinner — " I shall use all my ability to find the boy, and hope to 
be successful." 

Clayton — •" I will entrust to your care the locket and furnish you 
with money for expenses," (hands him the locket and a package) 
"and promise you a liberal reward if you find the boy. I leave^ 
for Europe in the morning, therefore my time is limited for ar- 
ranging my business affairs. I will leave you my address in case 
you should wish to communicate with me." (Hands him a card.) 

Spinner (arising from his chair)^"With thanks for the confi- 
dence reposed in me, I shall endeavor to solve this mystery, I wish 
you a pleasant voyage and safe return to your home." i^Exit iSpinner.) 

Clayton (rises from his desk, takes the box and goes into the 
vault. ) 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Meadows (closes his desk, steps forward) — "Then will be my 
time, while he is absent I'll make money. If I fail — well, Canada 
is not far off." 

Clayton (returning from vault) — -"Clarence, will you dine with 
Grace and myself this evening 1 Then I will show the rooms you 
are to occupy." 

Meadows — "Oh, I thank you, it will be a pleasure to accept your 
invitation." (Exit Clayton.) 

Meadows — "Ah, everything is playing into my hand; I must 
make the most of the opportunity, and win Grace for a wife." 

(A'xit Meadows.) 

The Cashier, Teller and Clerk proceed to put the money and 
books ints the vault, while they are doing so. 

Curtain. 
A lapse of ten months between Prologue and First Act. 



ACT I. 



Scene — ^Corner of Market, Kearny and Geary streets. Time, 
half-past twelve o'clock, A. m. Several people passing through the 
streets. 

Enter Gip — " I'z tired — I'll take er snooz." (Doubles up in a 
doorway.) 

Enter Meadows (D.S.) — "Shinbourn will shortly come out of the 
club room. 1 must see him. James Clayton returns in a few days, 
then my shortage will be discovered. He wants money, I want 
safety." 

Enter Mrs. Drake {L. turns U. S.) (Veiled.) 

Meadows (as they pass) " H'm, ah !" 

Mrs. Drake (turns, throws back her veil) — "Allen Drake." 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Meadows (with a start) — " You here, I left you in Denver !" 

Mrs. Drake — '' Yes, and in the eye of the law, your wife. But 
the love that once filled my soul for you is dead, died when our 
child died. Go ! You are nothing to nie !" 

Meadows — " Bah ! my wife? What you Supposed a marriage was 
a farce." 

Mrs. Drake — ^"I can prove it by this ring," (shows ring on her 
finger) " and by my marriage certificate." 

Meadows — -"Give me the ring," (seizes her by the wrist) "and 
certificate, we are alone. I will kill you to get them !" 

Mrs. Drake (struggling) " Help ! Help !" 

Enter Prince (i?.) — ^" I heard a worn m's voice, calling for help, 
where is she 1 Say, you, let go !" (Strikes Meadows on the breast, 
who staggers back, letting go of Mrs Drake. 

{Exit Mrs. Drake R. U. S.) 

Meadows (strikes Prince over the head with his cane. Prince 
falls to the ground, in falling a small locket becomes exposed, at- 
tached to his neck by a chain, Meadows bends over and observes 
the locket.) 

Gip (rises out of ihe doorway and peers at them around the 
corner. 

Meadows— " A locket, I will see what it contains," (opens the 
locket; "Albert Clayton's face! This must be his son! For his 
interference in my affairs i'll secure this, and destroy all proof of 
his identity." (Breaks the chain, and puts locket in his pocket.) 
- Gip (slips up behind Meadows and takt-s the locket from his 
pocket.) (^'-^^'^ G^P ^■) 

Meadows (rises.) • {Exit L.) 

Enter Si— (Observes the prostrate man, stoops and looks at him) 
" Ah ! Prince, the fruit peddler, poor fellow ! some drunken brute 
has done this. 1 will help him to his room before a cop comes 
along and runs him in." (Prince revives, is helped to his feet.) 

Exeunt Si and Prince E. U. S.) 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Re-nter Meadows (Zi)— "I must have dropped the locket on the 
ground." (Looks for it.) 

Enter Gip (R) — "I say, mister, gimme a nickel fer coffee 1" 
Meadows (fiercely) — "Get out of here, you ragamuffin." 
Gip — " 'Spose I'z ragged, I don't role a drunk, looz der swag an' 
go ter clawing in der mud fer it." 

Meadows — " See here, boy, what do you know 1 Come here, 
here is some money for you." (Shows money.) 

Gip — "Frow it 'ere, I ain't der kid ter let yer get yer claws on 
ter." (Sings) 

" Fer yer er so very kind, 
In yer niiud, in yer mind." 

[Ends with a mocking laugh.] 

Enter Shinbourn {R. D. S. laughing)— " Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Clarence 
Meadows, having a bout with Gip, one of the smartest gamins in 
the city. Ha ! Ha !" 

Meadows (angrily) — " You need not be so merry, I have had too 
much to annoy me to-night." 

Shinbourn (to Gip) — " Take this," (throws him a piece of money) 
"now get out of here, you young Arab." 

Gip (catches the piece, looks at it and bites it) — "Gov., I'll see 
yer later." (^Exit Gip) (while Mugs is singing he returns and 
hides in cellarway on the corner.) 

Enter Mugs (Z/. D. S. drunk and singing,) 

" Once I was a landlord's pet, then I had money to spend ; 
I spent it in drink, and verily did think 
It never would come to an end. 
But now I have nothing but rags to my back, 
My boots won't hide my toes-o-oes. 
The crown of my hat goes flip, Hop, flap, 
Boj's laugh at my ruin-blossom'd nose. 

(8peaks) That's SO ! 

(Gazing stupidly around discovers Shinbourn and Meadows, stag- 
gers up to them.) — "Could I speak to you ? If I had twenty-five 
cents I could get a bed," (aside) "or a drink." 

Meadows (Gives him a piece of money) " Now go !" 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Mugs (staggering away) " I always knew you were a gentleman." 
(Looks at the money) " The money is good, anyhow." [Exit Mugs, 
singing.) 

"The crown of my hat goes flip, flop, flap." 

Shinbourn — "You look worried, what's up." 
Meadows — "My wife is in the city, I just met her." 
Shinbourn — " Very likely she lives around on Stevenson street. 

If she should find you out, you would be in a nice fix." 
Meadows — " She shall never know." 
Shinbourn (aside — " He is in a desperate mood ; I will spring 

the game on him." (To Meadows) "I s-e that James Clayton , is 

on his way home. He will miss his bonds." 

Me idows — "What do you mean, what do you know about 

the bonds V 

Shinbourn — " Oh, your position is plain. No man can place 
forty or fifty thousand dollars in wild speculation on twenty -five 
hundred a year." 

Meadows — "Ah, then you know." 
Shinbourn — " Yes, you have but one way to safety." 
Meadows — " And that T 

Shinbourn — " You have the combination to the vault at the 
bank, I believe T 

Meadows — " Certainly, but what of that V 

Shinbourn — "Just this, give me the combination, and I will do 
the rest." 

Meadows — "Oh ! I see, it's a burglary you propose." 

Shinbourn — " Say it easy ; you having appropriated part of the 
funds in the day-time, I take the balance in the night, thereby 
covering your defalcation." 

Meadows (aside) — "The first gleam of hope." (To Shinbourn) 
" I'll do it," (takes card out of his pocket and writes on it) "here 
is the combination, make sure work. But come, show me where 
my wife lives." {^Exeunt Meadows and ''Shinbourn B.) 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Gip (coming out of cellarway) " I'm on der racket, I'll be in der 
swim. Si en me er'l pertect der du-cats, I'll tote ter der ranch 
fer 'saltation." (Starts to go.) 

Re-enter Meadows (catclies hold of Gip) — "You young rascal where 
is the locket you stole out of my pocket V 

Gip " H'y yer want ter reck a fellow's close 1 Wot yer talk- 
ing about, I ain't got nuthin' er yourn." (Struggles.) 

Enter Si — " Let go your grip on the lad, you hear me 1" (Punches 
Meadows on the neck, who falls to the ground.) 

Curlain, 



ACT II. 

Scene 1 —Parlor in James Clayton's mansion. Time, seven 
o'clock, P. M. 

Grace Saville (at piano playing the waltz "A Friend of Mine.") 
Meadows (in easy chair gazing in admiration at Grace ; as the 
music ceases, Grace turns from the piano. Meadows rises and goes 

to her) "Grace, when will you give me the yes that makes me 

more than friead — the yes that will make you my wife, and me 
the happiest of men 1" 

Grace "Clarence, you knosv by the terms of my father's will 

I cannot engage myself until I am of age without my guardian's 
consent.' 

' Meadows—" But Grace, you will be of age in a few days, and 
your guardian will give his consent on his return." 

Grace " Do not urge me, Clarence, it gives me as much pain as 

it does you disappointment that I cannot answer you now." 

Enter Maid (hands Grace a card). (Exit Maid.) 

Grace (reads card, turning to Meadows)—" Excuse me, Clarence, 
there is a lady waiting with whom I have an engagement, I must 
bid you good night." 



SI, THE TRAMP. 



Meadows — "Good night." {Exit Grace.) "I feel her answer 
will be the yes I seek, but I must wait for her guardian's return." 
(Stops in thought a moment) "Now for my wife ; I must silence 
her, if not by fair means then by foul." [Exit Clarence.) 



Scene 2 — A room in a lodging-house. Tinip, eight o'clock, p. m. 

Enter Si — " I do not know why I take such an interest in this 
poor woman. I will leave the provisions for her, I know she needs 
them." (Places them on the table and steps to the stove.) " The 
wood is almost gone, I will go ani get some." [Exit Si.) 

Enter Mrs. Drake (lights the lamp, discovers the pro\ isions on 
the table) — " Wiiy, my guardian angel has been here, I wonder 
who it can be 1 They have saved me from starvation more than 
once." (Turns to the stove.) " There is only wood for morning, I 
will have to eat a cold supper." (Seats herself at the table.) 

Enter Meadows — " My dear, it's a long time since you had the 
pleasure of my company." 

Mrs. Drake — " The pleasure of your company was but another 
name for a- woman's folly, which too soon changed to sorrow." 

Meadows — " Call it so ; now to the purpose of my visit, you 
must give me the certificate of our marriage, leave for some secluded 
place in the East and forget you ever knew me; I will furnish you 
with money to begin life anew." 

Mrs. Drake (rising out of her chair) — " Fiend, do you know what 
you ask, what it is for a woman to sunender all that guards her 
honor 1" v^ 

Meadows — " I am a desperate mian, and am here to enforce you 
to comply with my terms." 

Mrs. Drake — " Never, while life lasts, will I consent to sucli in- 
famous terms — never !" 

Meadows — " Then life shall not last long !" (He catches her by 
the throat, they struggle, .--he appears to be dead, he places her on 
the lounge, then searching finds the certificate, sta)ts for the door 
looks back) " I will up.set the lamp, set fire to the liouse, d<-stroy all 
evidence of this, and who's to know?" (Upsets the lamp, lays a 
paper leading to the oil, tires the paper.) (Exit Meadoivs.) 



Sr, THE TRAMP. 



Enter Si (with a sack of wood ; sees the lamp and fire creeping 
to the oil, lays dawn the wood and extinguishes the fire, takes a 
candle from the mantle-shelf, lights it, discovers Mrs. Drake appar- 
ently dead) " There is murder here ! Who has done this 1 See the 
mark of cruel fingers on her throat !" (Feels her pulse.) " Ah, 
there is a feeble throb, I must start the blood in circulation." 
(Takes from an inside pocket of his coat a small case of surgical 
instruments, uncovers her arm, cutting a flesh-colored tube con- 
nected with a rubber bulb filled with red colored fluid, she pressing 
on the bulb, the fluid flows out, giving the appearance of bleeding, 
she shows signs of life, and he hastily bandages her arm, takes out 
a small vial) "This will give her strength." (pours a few drops in a 
glass of water, and gives it to her, her breathing becomes regular.) 
"She lives ! Lives, not for revenge, but for justice !" 

C artain. 



ACT 111. 
Scene 1. — Ofiice and bar in the Home for the Weary. Time, 
ten o'clock, p. m. Landlady in the bar, several lodgers in the room. 

Enter Gip and Prince (they sit down, appear to be talking). 
Enter Mugs (carrying a jug and singing) — 

"Spare, oh spare this jug, 
Oft times its warmed the heart (speaks) of Mugs." 

(Staggers up to the bar.) 

"Mrs. Bloomtiehi, I hope you're quite well — 
I'm all broke up, and have had a bad spell — 
I've traveled far, am very tired and thirsty, too, 
Would you give me a drink on my I U ?" 

Mrs. Bloomfield — " Mugs, it's no go, but if you will sing a song 
I'll treat for old acquaintance sake." 
Mugs— "All right." (Sings.) 



SI, THE TRAMP. 10 



THE ONE AND THE OTHER. 

1 " They're born the same, the rich, the tramp, 

As you must certainly know, 
Tho' living apart, they end the same, 

As I will surely show. 
The rich they go on a journey afar, 

A tramp comes jogi;ing behind; 

The rich they ride in a gilded car, 

A tramp on the baggage, blind, 

Chorus — Tho' his coat is ragged and torn. 
His hands are grimy with dirt — 
The coat can cover a heart that's warm, 
Tho' his hands are unwilling to work. 

2 The rich wear clothes from a tailor, so grand, 

A tramp wears what he can get. 
The rich wear hats with silken bands, 

A tramp's is made out of felt. 
The rich they dine at restaurants fine, 

A tramp, where he dines ain't clear. 
The rich sip wine from a glass that shines, 

While a tramp from a can drinks beer. 

Cho. — Tho' his coat is ragged and torn, etc. 

3 The rich lie down on beds of down, 

A tramp on a cellar door. 
The rich are covered with satin spreads, 

A tramp has no covering o'er. 
The rich they die, as die they will, 

A tramp he dies when he must, 
The rich, the tramp, a box they fill, 

While botli are turning to dust. 
Cho. — Tho' his coat is ragged and torn, etc. 

(At close of song, all go up to the bar but Gip and Prince.) 

Enter Si (Gip and Priace go up to Si.) 

Gip — " I say, Si, 'eres a locket a bloke took off er chap's neck ; 
I prigged it out ter his pocket." (Si and Prince examine the 
locket.) 

Prince — " This is mine, it has the picture of my father and 
mother. It was taken from my neck last night while I was un- 
conscious." 



SI, THE TRAMP. n 



Si (with a start hands the locket to Prince) — "It is of great 
value to you ; take good care of it. 

Gip — " Der bloke an anuther gent 'greed ter rob Clayton's Bank ; 
we kin spile der game." 

Si — " Come, lads, we will take a turn down by the Bank." 

{Exeunt Si, Gip and Prince.) 



ScEXE 2. — (Interior of James Clayton's Banking House. Time, 
seven o'clock, p. m. Clerk at work on books, he g^ts down from his 
stool, puts books in the vault, closes and locks the door, draws 
screen gate away from front of vault.) (Exit Clerk.) 

(The vault is made of fine wire cloth, painted white, with cur- 
tains inside that draw up when the doors are closed by the bur- 
glars on entering the vault. Bunch lights are turned on so that 
the interior of vault is plainly seen, while the outside of vault re- 
mains in plain view of the audience.) 

(Time changes to 12 o'clock, niidnight.) 

Enter Shinbourn and Hope (they make a short but sharp ex- 
amination of the office.) 

Shinbourn (in a whisper) — " You keep watch while I unlock this 
door, if surprised we can get away." (He unlocks the door, then 
goes to and unlocks the door to the vault, both enter and close the 
doors behind them, and di ill a hole in door of safe, insert a car- 
tridge attached to fuse, fire fuse and the safe is blown open. They 
then gather up the money and put it in small hand bag, open the 
door to vault, step out and are confronted by Si ; Shinbourn dropk 
the bag, grabs a jimmy, raises it to strike ; Si covers him with a 
pistol, for one moment they glare in each other's eyes ) Si — "Drop 
your weapon or I'll shoot." (Shinbourn cowers, drops his weapon, 
and shrinks back, looking over Si's shoulder exclaims) " Stop, don't 
hit him, Jim." (Si turns iiis head and Shinbourn makes a leap 
towards Si, strikes him a blow on the arm, Si drops the pistol, 
Shinbourn and Hope start for the door, Si catches hold of Hope, 
forces him back on a desk, Hope gets a knife out.) 



SI, THE TRAMP. 12 

Enter Prince and Gip (Prince takes hold of Hope's arm, Gip 
picks up the pistol, places it at Hope's head) " Der yer gin in 1 Si, 
is yer hurt 1 " 

Curtain. 



ACT IV. 

Scene — Reception room in James Clayton's mansion. Time, 
ten o'clock, a. m. Clayton seated reading paper. 

Enter Grace (draws a hassock up to Clayton, seats herself.) 
" Now guardie, you must tell me all about your trip and the sights 
you Lave seen." 

Enter Maid (hands Clayton a card, he looks at it ) 

Clayton — " Show the gentleman in." 

Enter Si and Prince — " I hardly think you will know me in this 
guise, 1 will remove it," (takes off his hat, coat, whiskers and wig) 
" No longer Si, the Tramp, but Detective Spinner, at your service." 

Clayton (rises out of his chair and takes Spinner by the hand) — 
" I feel you have been successful. Where is the boy f 

Spinner — " Yes, I liave been successful I return the locket you 
entrusted to my care." (HAnds Clayton the locket.) " This young 
man will furnish you with the duplicate and the certificate of his 
parents' marriage." 

Prince (hands the locket and certificate to Clayton). 

Clayton (looks at them for a moment, takes Prince by the hand;, 
gazfcS in his face, and in a tremulous voice) " Yes, 1 see every feat- 
ure of poor Albert in his face. Poor boy, there are brighter days 
in store for you." (To Grace) "This is my grandson ; his future 
home will be with us." (Graces takes Piince by the hand ; they 
appear to be talking.) 

Enter Meadows (excited) — " I have come to inform you that the 
bank was entered by burglars last night, and the safe I'obbed of its 
contents." 



SI, THE TRAMP. 13 



Spinner (interrupting, to Clayton) — " I understood something of 
the kind was to happen, but arriving there just as the burglars 
were leaving, [ attempted to arrest them. I captured one, the 
other escaped, leaving the money " (turning to Meadows) " and his 
confederates behind." 

Meadows — " What do you mean, why do you address me f 

Spinner — " Easy young man, I will explain. You having em- 
bezzled certain bonds left in the bank for safe-keeping, and also 
having become the associate of criminals, with a despei ate chance 
of saving yourself, gave them the combination of the vault, trust- 
ing to their skill to do the rest. You then visited the home of 
your poor, wronged wife, choked her into insensibility, leaving her 
for dead, setting fire to the house, and carrying away the only 
proof of your marriage under your proper name — Allan Drake." 

Meadows (listening with dismay, but recovering himself as Spin- 
ner ceased — to Clayton and Grace) "He lies, I am innocent ! He 
has no proof !" (turns to face Spinner and Mrs. Drake stands before 
him) " My God, my wife, alive ? 1 am lost !" 

Enter Gip — " If 'ere isn't der gent I 'erd puttiu' up der job ter 
rob der bank !" 

Grace (scornfully) — " And you arc the man who seeks an honor- 
able woman for his wife ; a murderer — a thief ! Your wife, thank 
God that I have escaped such a fate !" (Turns with a sob to Clay- 
ton.) 

Meadows — "Curse the fate that balked my plans." (Starts for 
the door, is confronted by Gip who points a pistol at him.) 

Gip — " Pass in der checks, yer game is up." y 

Meadows (draws a knife and takes a step towards Gip, who fires 
at him, Meadows stops, drops his knife, presses his hand to his side, 
and sinks to the ground) — " It's ended, do your worst." 

Spinner — You will be punished for your crimes, there is no es- 
cape." 

Meadows — " Yes I will," (holds up his hand, covered with blood) 
" See, I am beyond the surgeon's skill !" 

Spinner — " Curse it !" 



SI, THE TRAMP. 14 



Meadows — ''Ah, you are vexed, now that you have caught me, 
but T shall escape your grasp." 

Mrs. Drake (stepping towards him) — Oh, Allen, make your peace 
with God and man while there is time. I will send for a doctor." 

Meadows — " No doctor could save me. From man I have noth- 
ing to fear ; with God — too — late! Is — there — a — world — above? 
Mother — I ." (Falls back dead.) 



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